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Using printable gift card technology, The Sewickley Spa increased holiday sales by 600% between December 22-25, 2004, and doubled sales between February 11-14 at its newly redesigned website, http://www.sewickleyspa.com. The technology, custom-built for the spa by NovauroraÂ®, a Downtown Pittsburgh-based marketing technology company, allows customers to purchase and instantly print barcoded gift cards from their home computers.

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Using printable gift card technology, The Sewickley Spa increased holiday sales by 600% between December 22-25, 2004, and doubled sales between February 11-14 at its newly redesigned website, http://www.sewickleyspa.com. The technology, custom-built for the spa by NovauroraÂ®, a Downtown Pittsburgh-based marketing technology company, allows customers to purchase and instantly print barcoded gift cards from their home computers.

The launch of the site, publicized with radio spots emphasizing the new design and technology, generated tremendous interest. When printable capability went live, sales jumped 1700% from the same date last year, with nearly all of the customers purchasing and printing their own gift cards. Last-minute shoppers were printing and e-mailing gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and ValentineÂs DayÂ dates impossible to fulfill on years past; ValentineÂs Day alone showed a 400% increase. The system also has the added benefit of reducing overhead by saving employee time and eliminating costs associated with producing and fulfilling the traditional gift cards.

The NovauroraÂ®-built site has handled six-figures in gift certificate sales alone in just three months. Due to this overwhelming success, plans are now in the works for NovauroraÂ® to construct a virtual store for The Sewickley Spa line of skin products, and to add a one-of-a-kind online concierge. The online concierge will recommend revitalizing, health, pampering, or beauty type spa treatments for trouble spots, and even book the appointment. The site already boasts a suite of custom-built software for spa management, including a market intelligence dashboard system to provide customer and financial analytics as well as accountability for advertising campaigns.

For Dorothy Andreas Tuel, owner of The Sewickley Spa, progressive thinking and technology are not just components of her business Â they are the lifeblood that energizes it. In the late Â90s, her company was among the first to launch a website. So it comes as no surprise that during the past holiday season she launched a new site that pushes the envelope once again. ÂWith the unbelievable response weÂve gotten so far, the new website will generate at least as much as a physical spa in terms of revenues,Â said Andreas Tuel. ÂThis will help to keep the three spas busy throughout the year, and make the whole purchasing experience easier for the clients. We like to pamper them throughout every phase of their association with us.Â

About The Sewickley Spa

The Sewickley Spa (http://www.sewickleyspa.com) is an oasis for clients to be pampered, soothed, and made to feel fabulousÂ if even for a day. The Sewickley Spa boasts three locations, the namesake opened in 1997 in the quaint village of Sewickley. All locations provide luxury spa services to both men and women, with staff treating an average of 10,000 guests per year. The Sewickley Spa offers 112 different spa treatments, the most knowledgeable and best trained staff, and the epitome of ambiance. The Sewickley Spa has repeatedly been voted best day spa by several newspapers reader polls.

About NovauroraÂ®

NovauroraÂ® (http://www.novaurora.com) is quickly establishing itself as a leader in the emerging field of marketing technology: the development of software to solve real world business problems in concert with successful marketing campaigns on and offline. With expertise in modern branding methodology and cutting edge programming, core services include: custom web design, software development, marketing collateral production, and related consulting. Downtown Pittsburgh-based NovauroraÂ® was founded in 2003 by current CEO Jason M. Putorti, 22, and is on course for revenues of $1 million this year, 1000% of 2004 billings.

Further information on Novaurora, its staff, and its line of services can be obtained from the companyÂs website, http://www.novaurora.com, or by calling (412) 745-8000.